Eastbourne suffers the same problem of most other towns - vacant shops in prominent locations - and bringing a bit of culture to highlight the problem is pretty smart.

Most shoppers now tend to walk past boarded-up premises without really seeing them nowadays, so the splash of colour will do plenty to highlight the problem in streets such as Terminus Road.

We are told Brighton and Hove City Council has launched a similar campaign, which has been successful in tackling problems of vandalism in the more run-down areas of Brighton.

Not only that, showcasing these works of art acts as a positive advertisement of the long-awaited Cultural Centre and the promised collection of paintings, sculpture and interactive artistic opportunities within.

It's a shame that we don't see more creative thinking in our town. Chances to stage a carnival and a bonfire night procession in recent years have been rejected on grounds of health and safety, which is a crying shame considering the support such events would draw.

We had an extremely successful run of carnivals in the 1980s, which I remember well, and towns such as Lewes manage bonfire processions without terrible accidents.

And then there was that wonderful idea to build a 'wicker man' sculpture from the washed-up wood on Cow Gap and set fire to it in a blaze of glory. Properly managed, such an event would have brought visitors from far and wide, with undoubted coverage from regional newspapers and TV stations.

Taking the Towner works to the street does show creative spark - we could just do with seeing some more of it.

That's going to take some more imagination - and less fear of what the health and safety department might say - from the borough council.

And the rewards? A positive step to shake off the old image of Eastbourne as a staid, tired old town and a chance to show the rest of the country what we've got.